Police: Man swallows stolen ring, needs surgery to remove it

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – Authorities in Northern California say a man charged with burglary needed surgery to remove a stolen ring that he had swallowed while fleeing police.

The San Jose Mercury News newspaper reports (http://bayareane.ws/1qu8eSL ) the chase ended when the man, identified as 36-year-old Joel Steffensen of Martinez crashed his car into a fence at a rapid transit station last Thursday.

Walnut Creek police spokesman Lt. Lanny Edwards says a hospital X-ray showed a ring lodged in his esophagus. The resident of the home that was burglarized later identified the gold wedding band.

Prosecutors charged Steffensen with burglary, evasion of police officers and resisting arrest. It was not immediately known if Steffensen has an attorney.